Movie-Holic

People who watch movies are an opinionated bunch. We like what we like. There isn’t much in trying to persuade us one way or the other. When a movie captures us, for whatever reason, we will like it.

For example, there are some very popular movies that I don’t particularly care for. Movies like Natural Born Killers, Pulp Fiction, and Steel Magnolias were highly acclaimed by both fans and critics. I didn’t like them at all. I was bored. Thought the entire time watching them was a complete waste and actually got dumber by seeing them. Having said that… there will be those who disagree and think that these movies are among the best ever made. See what I mean? We all like different things and are not afraid to voice our opinions.

Being all different is one thing, but I do believe that we also look for the same thing in the movies we watch and like. There is something inside of all of us that we line up with every movie we watch. Some of these things are very personal to each individual (certain genre preferences, actors, and era can be personal), but I think there are some things that are universal to all movie goers.

Good Movie Criteria

Storyline – A good movie has to have at least a good storyline that captures the person watching it and keeps their interest. If the storyline is too far fetched, extremely slow, or just not there at all – people begin to check out and eventually stop watching it. Great stories, played out on the screen can be the most captivating part of a great movie. Gone With The Wind, Casablanca, Armageddon, and Pearl Harbor are just four examples of truly great storylines.

Passion – No, I’m not talking about on screen passion. (Unless that’s one of your personal preferences). I’m talking about the passion the actors give to the part that they play. You can tell that they gave it everything they have an actually became that character. Heath Ledger playing the Joker in Dark Knight, Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, and even Mandy Moore in A Walk To Remember show actors giving everything they have into the part they are playing.

Scene Continuity – If there is one thing that will lead me to dislike a movie rather quickly is the sense of being lost within the movie. Not the, “I Love This Movie!” type of being lost, but the “What the heck does this have to do with anything?” type of lost. Scene continuity is something that a movie can’t possibly live without. I can get by with actors going through the motions (think Arnold as Mr. Freeze), and even less than stellar story, but if I am led off the path too many times and can’t figure out why… I’m gone.

Attention Grabbing Events – It doesn’t matter if the movie is a horror, action, romance, period piece, science fiction, comedy, or even animated – there has to be several attention grabbing scenes that pull you into it and make you forget you’re watching a movie. These don’t have to be one right after another (although, I love it when a movie doesn’t let you rest for a second), a little here and there is just fine.

An Element Of Fun – If I go to a movie and come out with a sense of, “I’m so glad I went to that movie”, I had fun. I could be scared out of my mind, crying like a baby, hurting because of laughing so hard, or completely jacked up because of the adrenaline pumping action – it doesn’t matter. I just want to have fun. If that isn’t there… I’m not either.

What Do You Like In A Movie?

I feel those are some of the things that are universal criteria for all movie goers. I think in our own way we look for these things. But, there are also those personal things that we look for in movies.

One thing I like in a movie is risk. Did the director take a risk? Is it something that isn’t normally done? If they can pull it off, I like it. What are some of the things you look for in movies? Don’t be shy.

Leave us a comment and let the discussions begin!